Collaboration for the Promotion of Nursing : Nursing 2000: A Collaborative Model

Collaboration for the Promotion of Nursing, whose authors are from the Nursing 2000 organization in Indiana, is something different; something well worth reading for it is an example of what can happen when people/groups work together. You will read about how nursing education and service have developed and maintained a very successful working relationship that serves the communities in which they preside, and in a state that has been a dynamic fulcrum for nursing innovation through the years. Nursing 2000 is a study of a dynamic collaboration - a partnership with soul. "Winning partnerships have a purpose, and the partners know it. You have to know your partner's main business challenges, how your partner's success is measured, and your partner's hopes and dreams. Meshed with your own, these form the basis of a purposeful partnership, not just a transaction" (Bell & Shea, 1998, p. 91). The innovators at Nursing 2000 built their programs as a result of authentic dialogue with area stakeholders; hospitals, schools, governmental agencies, and community centers. They listened with a compassionate heart and were astute in 'hearing' what their constituencies needed. This book is also an expression of generosity. It is a demonstration of the power of noncompetitive relationships where everyone becomes more from the synergy such a context creates. The lessons learned are unconditionally offered, not because the nurse inventors and social scientists involved want something, but simply because it is their nature to 'give something back'. They are sharing their insights with colleagues, hoping they will seed further work, causing the profession to grow and prosper. This offering creates a legacy of affirmation within a profession that has had difficulty connecting in times past. This book offers a vision of hope and action for nursing.